Operator s receiving-telephone



(No Model.)

W. L. RICHARDS.

OPERATORS RECEIVING TELEPHONE.

No. 304,667. Patented Sept. 2, 1884.

NI'IED TATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILTON L. RICHARDS, OF MALDEN, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

OPERATORS RECEIVING-TELEPHONE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 304,667, dated September 2, 1884.

Application filed May 31, 1884.

To all whom it 11mg concern:

Be it known that I, WILTON L. RICHARDS of Maiden, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain 5 Improvements in Operators Receiving-Telephones, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a compact telephone and support therefor of light weight ,but efficient power, adapted to be attached to the head of the wearer, whereby the telephone may be maintained in close juxtaposition to the ear, so as to leave both hands free, and thus enable the switch-board operators of a telephone-exchange to increase the rapidity of their manipulations, and consequently improve the service. Such an instrumenthas become an absolute necessityin large exchanges, and in conjunction with the multiple switch board and system, and in addition to the acceleration of the speed of manipulation, has an important function in relieving the operators themselves from the annoyance and physical labor of raising an ordinary receiving-telephone to the ear so frequently as would otherwise be necessary.

My invention, in pursuance of said object, consists in the combination of a receiving-telephone comprising a bar-magnet, an induction-helix therefor, a diaphragm, and an inclosing-case and ear-piece, with an adjustable spring attachment adapted to be supported upon the head, and adjusted to fit accurately and comfortably any size and conformation of head, and also capable of being so arranged as to distribute the weight in any preferred way, the whole being as light as possible consistent with perfect efiiciency.

Prior to my invention several attempts have been made to provide a head-telephone which, besides having appliances for holding the earpiece close to the ear, is easy to wear and perfectly serviceable; but from different causes they have not generally been found to give satisfaction; and reference as an acknowledgement of the state of the art is here made to Letters PatentNo. 220,839, October 21, 1879, and No. 230,779, August 30, 1880, both issued to Andrew C. Hubbard. In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification, Figure l is aper- (No model.)

spective viewof the complete instrument.

Fig. 2 is a detail showing the adjustable connection of the supportingsprings in relation to the magnet as seen from the inside. Fig. 3 is a detail showing the adjustment of the free end of the supporting-springs; and Fig. 4 is a side view of the apparatus when adapted for use, looking at the rear of the receiver.

Referring to the drawings, T is a receiving magnetotelephone, containing, as usual, a helix and diaphragm, and the pole-piece of the permanent magnet M, which pole-piece is attached to the magnet at right angles therewith, and surrounded by the helix or coil. The coil is connected by suitable terminal wires with the binding-screws t, to which an ordinary telephone-cord, C, communicating, by suitable connections, with the line-wires, may be attached, as shown. The magnet M is preferably of the permanent type, and extends upward, so as to be clear. of the telephone-case and supporting-s1:)rings. It is fastened by a set-screw, w, to the case, and upon the removal of this screw the magnet may be entirely withdrawn from the said case, as the core is loosely fitted into the coil. A curved strap of copper, phosphorbronze, or other suitable metal or alloy, is fastened, by one or more screws, d, to the inner surface of the magnet M; and to 'this strap, by a pivot-screw,c, the two springs to and I), of steel, brass, or phosphor-bronze, curved to conform, generally, to the shape of the human head, are secured in such a way that they are movable upon the said pivotscrew, and may be brought nearer to, or drawn farther away from, one another, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. i. A slot, a, is

longitudinallycutin the free end of the spring a, and a similar slot, 1), is made in the free end of the spring b, and an adj ustingscrew, h, provided with a nut, i, is inserted through the two slots, and may look them together in any desired position, whereby the springs may be conveniently adjusted to the wearer.

In adapting this instrument to th r, the nut 72 is loosened and the sprin s placed over t-hehead. The telephoneT is then placed in suitable proximity to the ear, and the springs a and I) adjusted to make any required angle with one another, to distribute the weight evenlyand to enable the wearer to use ICO the instrument with comparative comfort. The nut i may then be screwed up, and the adjustment is complete so far as the individual wearer is concerned, and the instrument may be lifted from or restored to the head without further change- To adapt the same instrument to another wearer, it is only necessary to loosen the nut i and repeat the foregoing operation.

By my invention a light, and at the same time an efficacious,head-telephoneis provided.

\Vhile I prefer a telephone of the shape shown and described, I do not of course limit myself thereto, since many other forms may be equally well combined with the separable and adjustable springs; and

I claim 1. A head receiving-telephone combined with supportingsprings adjustable on a pivot with reference to one another, and provided with means for longitudinal adjustment, whereby the instrument may be fitted to the head of the wearer, substantially as described.

2. In combination with the telephone T, the adjustable spring-supports a .and b, affixed to and adjustable laterally with reference to one another on the magnet M, and slotted at their free ends for the reception of the regulating-scrcw 7L- and nut z, substantially as indicated, and for the purposes specified.

and to the telephone at one end, and provided with the pivot-screw c at the telephone end, so that the center of the springs may be separated to any required position, and with the slots a and b, set-screw h, and nut i at the free end for longitudinal adjustment, as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribingwitnesses, this 27th day of May, 1884.

WILTON L. RICHARDS.

\Vitnesses:

G120. WILLIs PIERCE, FRED J. F. SCHWARTZ. 

